We investigate the ecology of Psammomys obesus (fat sand rat) in southern Tunisia, focusing on its distribution and abundance in relation to vegetation structure and plant species composition. Given its dependence on halophytic vegetation, particularly Amaranthaceae, we tested the hypothesis that its distribution and abundance are influenced by plant density, species richness, and specific plant species presence rather than vegetation cover. We conducted field surveys across diverse arid ecosystems and analyzed the relationships between fat sand rat occurrence and abundance relative to plant density and species richness. Psammomys obesus was present at approximately one quarter of surveyed sites, with low average total and active burrow densities, indicating notable habitat-driven variation. Its occurrence was closely associated with Amaranthaceae plants, particularly Arthrophytum scoparium and Arthrophytum schmittianum, highlighting the species’ specialized dietary and habitat requirements. Fat sand rat abundance was positively associated with the presence of the Amaranthaceae, Poaceae and Apiaceae families, reflecting the contribution of multiple species within these families, while at the species level only Stipagrostis pungens (Poaceae) showed a significant effect. Our findings highlight that conserving halophytic species of the Amaranthaceae family, which strongly determine fat sand rat occurrence, as well as other key plant families such as Poaceae and Apiaceae that influence its abundance, is crucial for sustaining the food and shelter resources that support Psammomys obesus populations in arid landscapes.
Urolithiasis is a polyetiological disease characterized by the presence and impact of urolithiasis or a large number of crystals on the urinary tract. This pathology occupies one of the leading places in the structure of urological diseases and pathologies of non-infectious etiology in general in veterinary practice, including in cats. The main principle of treating urolithiasis in cats is the removal or dissolution of crystals. There are developed methods for dissolving sand and stones of struvite origin in cats. Special diets are usually used by doctors to reduce the concentration of mineral components of struvite. Today, the veterinary diet market in Russia offers diets from various Russian manufacturers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the use of the dry form of the veterinary diet "AJO VET DIETA STRUVITE" of the LIMKORM group of companies in cats diagnosed with struvite urolithiasis on hematological blood parameters. The study was conducted on 10 mongrel cats with a confirmed diagnosis of struvite urolithiasis. The cats of the experimental group were fed for 1 month with the dry form of the veterinary diet "AJO VET DIETA STRUVITE" of the LIMKORM group of companies in the dosage according to the instructions. Additional drug treatment of the animals was not carried out. Blood samples from these animals for biochemical and morphological examination were taken 3 times: before the start of feeding, 14 days after the start of feeding, 1 month after the start of feeding. The main biochemical and morphological parameters of the blood were determined in the selected samples. When assessing the hematological status of a cat diagnosed with struvite urolithiasis, it was found that cats do not have reliable changes in the main biochemical parameters of the blood characterizing protein, nitrogen and mineral metabolism, however, morphological parameters change significantly: thus, the hemoglobin concentration is at the upper limit of the reference values; the color index of blood is increased, erythrocyte indices are overestimated, which indicates a high degree of blood thickening caused by dehydration, signs of an inflammatory process are also observed, as indicated by an increase in the total number of leukocytes, the number of segmented neutrophils and a decrease in the number of lymphocytes. Feeding the experimental animals with the veterinary diet AJO VET DIETA STRUVITE of the LIMKORM group of companies for a month was not accompanied by reliable changes in the main biochemical parameters of the blood, characterizing protein, nitrogen and mineral metabolism, but led to a change in morphological parameters, so a decrease in blood thickening is observed, which indicates an insignificant decrease in the degree of dehydration. Thus, feeding the experimental animals with the veterinary diet AJO VET DIETA STRUVITE of the LIMKORM group of companies even for one month is characterized by tendencies to normalize the morphological parameters of the blood in the animals under study.
Feeding cows after launch requires special attention, since during this period there is an intensive growth and development of the fetus, so most of the nutrients entering the cow's body are spent on its development. In addition, there are strong hormonal changes, as preparations for childbirth are underway. Therefore, it is very important that the animal receives the necessary amount of nutrients during this period so that the fetus develops harmoniously, the birth takes place without complications, and the cow's recovery after calving is faster. The Beta-Carotene Complex (KBK) has proven itself well in dairy cattle breeding for lactating cows. Therefore, the aim of the study was to study the effect of the complex additive "KBK" for cattle on the biochemical parameters of cow blood during the transit period.The research was conducted in the conditions of animal husbandry in the Pskov region. The object for research is cows during the transit period. For the study, 2 groups of animals with 10 heads each were formed. The animals of the experimental group were given the "KBK" supplement in accordance with the draft instructions for use. The feed additive was dissolved in warm water at the rate of 300 ml per 25 liters of water for 15 days before calving. To study the effect of the feed additive, in addition to assessing the clinical condition of the animals, biochemical blood tests were performed 7 days before the start of giving the KBK feed additive, on the 9th day after the start of giving and on the 7th day after calving. As a result of the conducted research, the positive effect of the complex feed additive "KBK" on cows during the transit period has been established. This could be observed both by the clinical condition of the animals of the experimental group and by the results of biochemical blood parameters.
The research is aimed at analyzing trends in the development, problems and prospects of poultry farming in the Russian Federation. The object of the study was the poultry industry of the Russian Federation from 2023 to early 2025 in the context of the current geopolitical and economic situation in the world. The main attention is paid to priority areas, namely: breeding material, veterinary drugs and feed, as well as technological support. Summarizing the data obtained, it can be concluded that industrial poultry farming, while remaining a systemforming element of food security, has maintained its basic stability in 2023-2025 due to the increasing share of the domestic Smena-9 cross and the proven breeding value of Smena lines, the expansion of domestic production of compound feeds and veterinary drugs, as well as the strengthening of national technological competencies. Domestic industrial poultry farming is actively gaining momentum in all areas of development and will soon be able to fully achieve self-sufficiency.
Due to the intensive development of industrial poultry farming, timely monitoring of infectious diseases of birds is an integral part of a set of measures that provides for the introduction into practice of diagnostic studies that meet the current level of scientific development. The most relevant for industrial turkey breeding is the monitoring of particularly dangerous diseases (OIE list): Newcastle disease (ND), avian influenza (AI) and economically significant diseases of turkeys - hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys (HET), infectious encephalomyelitis of birds (IEB), respiratory mycoplasmosis and mycoplasmic synovitis caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM). An analysis of the current state of research on this topic has shown that the development of diagnostic methods for immunosuppressive diseases of birds (hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys) is an urgent area in the Russian Federation [1]. In order to prevent an outbreak of this disease, which is from an economic and epizootological point of view one of the most dangerous for the turkey breeding industry, it is necessary to carry out diagnostic monitoring of livestock on a planned basis in order to monitor the well-being of the farm for this disease, and in case of early detection of hemorrhagic enteritis, take all necessary measures to prevent further spread and reduce damage which she could have inflicted. That is why the purpose of our study is to develop a molecular biological method for diagnosing HET using the example of PCR in the classical version. In the course of the work carried out, the least variable GEI protein was selected, as well as the correct primers, amplification stages and the composition of the PCR mixture for this protein. When setting up the reaction, a positive result was obtained. All delivered samples reacted in accordance with the expected results.
